Maybe if Saladin had been the height of his powers, it would have been different, but one could argue a lot of things both ways on that score. As it is, when Saladin died, the Crusaders were still in the Holy Land and would continue to be for almost another century. So, Saladin was never able to defeat the Crusaders. read more
During the subsequent Third Crusade, Saladin was unable to defeat the armies led by England’s King Richard I (the Lionheart), reuslting in the loss of much of this conquered territory. However, he was able to negotiate a truce with Richard I that allowed for continued Muslim control of Jerusalem. read more
He was able to use his united Muslim army to defeat a large army of Crusaders at the Battle of Hattin on July 4, 1187. This victory essentially crippled the European's ability to stand against him. Within three months, Saladin and his army had recaptured nearly all of Palestine, including the city of Jerusalem. read more